There is no sport equal to that which aviators enjoy while being carried through the air on great white wings.
The exhilaration of flying is too keen, the pleasure too great, for it to be neglected as a sport.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Flying with Glass

Dynon SkyView Touch

Radio: In addition to being much clearer, new radios can transfer frequency information to the screen. With the additional encoded information you can see if Center, Tower or Approach is assigned to the frequency you are using. An Example:I was approaching KMVN, an airport I've never been to before. I told Flight Following that I wanted to check the weather and would check back in once I had it. I pushed the Waypoint button to see all of the frequencies associated with the airport. Touch the AWOS frequency and it was put in the Standby mode on my Nav radio. It also popped up on my display as MVN AWOS with the proper frequency. Memphis Center was listed on the Comm Radio as my Primary. No Confusion.

Wind Vector: I remember using all sorts of arcane means to determine the wind vector, all so you could plug it into a time/speed/distance problem to calculate your position. Now it is derived from the GPS as a given. An Example: I was landing at KMSL. I looked at the wind vector to see what the most likely runway would be and matched it to the HSI to see how I would set up for my entry. Nice to have when descending into the landing pattern.

Runway Extensions: I LOVE these! Little green and black extensions to the runway which provide a clear visual on how to set up for a VFR entry. An Example: After a 2.5 hour flight I approached KAUO, another airport I've never been to. I was approaching from the northwest, they were landing on RWY36. At 10 miles it was easy to see where I needed to fly for my 45° entry.

Autopilot: All of the modes are displayed on the screen so you immediately know if the plane is flying on a fixed heading or using a Nav Source to follow a track to the next waypoint. An Example: I got a call from Ft Campbell Control that the MOA was hot and to adjust my heading 10° right. The autopilot was in Nav mode. I reached over an clicked the heading button and turned the knob. I could immediately see that I was still in altitude mode and now flying in heading mode, because that's what it said on the top of my screen.

ADSB: Traffic and weather. You often see the traffic on the screen before Flight Following calls it. With the vectors attached to the targets it makes avoidance easier.

Weather: To be able to see the weather on the screen is nothing short of miraculous. Yes, there are drawbacks and we can misinterpret what is being shown, but it is so much better than just looking out the window at the dark gray stuff. An Example: Flying north from MSL to MVN I encountered a line of muck running west to east. The forecaster had said to expect it and that I should be able to stay under it VFR. He was wrong. Center said I was running into "moderate" rain. My weather display showed light green, turning to dark green with small patches of yellow. The largest yellow patch was directly on my route. Visibility was about 5 miles. I was nervous. I adjusted to the west and over time watched the patch slowly dissipate. I popped out of the rain just about where the display said I would. Nice to have the extra information on this flight.

Airspace: Is there a TFR active? What is the height of the shelf on that Class B? How far does the Class C extend under the shelf? All this and more is available on the screen. An Example: I was flying north to KBUU from KMVN, which would take me through the Chicago Class B. I could clearly see the airspace, had complete confidence on the heights of the extensions and was able to easily navigate around that space, as well as the numerous Class D spaces nearby.

Toys: Synthetic vision and all of the derivatives are just "plane" fun.